Isaiah 23:2-3. ” Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle: thou whom the merchants of Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. And by great waters the sea of Sihor, the harvest of the river, is her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.”
The inhabitants of the isle: this is a reference to Tyre, the destroyed city.
The merchants of Zidon: Tyre was a colony of Zidon, or Sidon, which was just a bit north up the coast of the Mediterranean. It was the first Phoenician city to send ships on the open seas; and became quite wealthy. However, the people also became careless, and they were a constant thorn in Israel’s side because, even though Zidon was within the boundaries of the Promised Land, Israel never possessed it. If you are interested in biblical history, as I am, you may want to browse this article.
Sihor is another name for the Nile, which was indeed a mart of the nations. The outlet of the Nile into the Mediterranean connected Egypt and her great wealth to the other merchants who sailed the Mediterranean, and of course the Nile had great harvests of its own in fish, reeds of papyrus for making paper, and flax for making linen.
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